Plating fixture



J. T. sAAs l 2,372,296

March'27, 1945. v

` PLATING FRITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1943 INVENTI'-R,

March 27, 1945. l J, SAAS 2,372,296

PLATIN@ FIXTURE Filed Nov. s, 1943 y 2 sheets-sheet g INVENTOR, BY .[25 VM` AMJ.) YLMJV' ATTaP/VE Ys Patented Mar. 27,'k `1945- I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RATING-FIXTURE James T. Saas, RockyRiver, Ohio Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. 509,360

f Cl.v 2011-297) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to electroplating apparatus, and more particularly to fixtures for supporting the articles to be plated in electrolytes.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to provide a fixture for this purpose which has double the capacity of xtures of like `nature with which I am familiar; also to provide a X- ture for this purpose which is provided with means for conveniently attaching to and detaching therefrom the anodes as well as the cathode elements which are to be electroplated.

A further object of theinvention is to provide, for fixtures of the above nature, novel, simple and effective means for supporting cylindrical cathode` elements in an electrolyte. i

Other and more limited objects of the invention will appear from the description which fol- I lows and will be realized in and through the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a plan view of my fixture and a portion of an electroplating tank with which the same is adapted to be used; Fig. 2 a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 a sectional view, similar to the lower portion of Fig. 2, and illustrating the manner in which cylindrical objects may be supported efficiently in the electrolyte; and Fig. 4

a detail in section corresponding substantially tothe line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the support for cylindrical objects and the supporting bar therefor.

The fixture comprises generally a substantially which are extended beyond the frame proper and provided with upwardly extending hooked ends for application to and support by the positive bus bar. The side members constitute supports to which a varying number of anodes may be secured, while the other members of the frame constitute supports for the hangers by which the cathode elements, tobe plated, are supported,

one of said hangers being extended upwardly and provided with a hooked end for engagement with the negative bus bar.

. Describing the various parts by reference characters, I denotes a positive bus bar and 2 a negative bus bar which are shown asextending above and spaced from the tank 3 containing the electrolyte, the level of which is indicated at 4. 5 denotes the opposite side members of a frame.

, the said side members being extended beyond the frame proper and having their ends bent upwardly and provided with hooks 6 for engagement with the bus bar I. These side members areconnected by across member 'I having end flanges 'I secured to the side members by bolts 8. The ends of the side members 5 opposite the member I are bent toward each other, as shown at 5a, and

rectangular frame, the opposite side members of have secured thereto, as by bolts Ill, a cross member!! made of insulating material. I I denotes a cathode hanger which is secured to the cross member 9 intermediate thev ends thereof, as by means of bolts l2, the said cathode hanger being provided with an upwardly extending hooked end I3 adapted to engage the negative bus bar 2. I4 denotes a cathode lhanger which is secured to a plate I5 of insulating material as by means oi bolts I6, the said plate being connected suspended from the central portion of the cross member 'I as by means of bolts Il.

. Each of the side members 5 is provided with a plurality of holes I8 for the receptionof the threaded `endsoi screw bolts I9 which extend through similarly located and spaced holes in the clamping plates 20. By virtue of this construction, a suitable number of anodes 2| may be secured to each of the side members 5, the anodes projecting downwardly into the electrolyte, preierably as far as the bottoms of the cathode hangersI II and I4. Two such anodes are shown, for purposes of illustration.

The cathode .hangers are provided with vertically spaced openings 22 for the reception of bolts 23, which are adapted to extend through openings provided therefor in cathode members 24 which may be plated or which may serve as supports for articles to be plated,

It will be noted that the rectangular frame and the insulating blocks 9 and I5 are all located above the electrolyte in the tank 3. It will be noted further that current supplied through the side frame members 5 is delivered therefrom to the depending anodes 2! and that current from these anodes will flow to opposite sides of a cathode member or members supported uponV the hangers II and I 4 whereby I am enabled to obtain a plating capacity far in excess of that obtainable with any other like fixture with which I am acquainted.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown how my fixture may be employed for supporting a cylindrical or tubular cathode member in such manner as to enable the electroplating to cover the entire external surface of such member. Referring to these figures, 25 is a supporting base in theform of a bar having its opposite ends secured to the .cathode hangers I I and I4 by meansof bolts 23.

Rigidly secured to said base, as by welding ma terial 21, is a semi-cylindrical clamping member 26. Adjustably secured. to the base is the opposed semi-cylindrical clamping member 28, the adjustment of the same being obtained by providing the base of the said member with a flanged foot 29, preferably formed with the bottom or base of said member and resting upon the bar 25 and projecting toward and preferably having its outer end located within the confines of the member 26.

- This foot is provided with an opening 30 for the to and reception of a bolt 3|, the opening being somewhat larger than the diameter of the bolt and the head Sla of the bolt engaging the surface of the foot which is remote from the supporting base 25. The stem of the bolt extends through the said base 25 and is provided on the end thereof with a nut 32. Each of the clamping members 2t and 28 is provided with a plate or wall 33, 34 secured to the inner wall thereof, as by welding. These plates or walls extend substantially parallel with the edges of their respective members, and the plate or wall 33 is provided with a threaded opening 35 for engagement by the thread of a thrust bolt 36, which extends through the outer wall of the member 26 and is adapted to engage the plate or wall 34 with its inner end.

In practice, the external diameter of the cylinder which is formed when the edges of the members 26 and 28 are in contact will be only sufficiently less than the internal diameter of the tubular member within which the said members are to be inserted as to provide a good working clearance so that, when the members are separated or expanded, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, there will be a substantially unbroken Contact between'the exterior surfaces of the said members and the inner surface of the tubular or cylindrical member 31 (indicated in dot-anddash lines) which is supported thereby. The external portions of the members 26 and 28 which vare adapted to engage the inner surface of the tubular article 3'! are shown as of less diameter than the remaining portions of the said members whereby shoulders 2Sa and 28a will be provided between the external surfaces of each of said members, which shoulders serve to assist in positioning the tubular object upon the clamping members.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that I have produced a simple and most ecient plating fixture and an expansible clamp for tubular .cathode members; also that various changes may be made Vin details of construction and design of the particular embodiments of my invention shown and described herein but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A plating fixture comprising a substantially rectangular frame having opposed anode-supporting side members each of which is provided with means for supporting the same from a positive bus bar, the said frame also including end members connecting opposite ends of the side members, cathode hangers depending from the said end members, intermediate of and insulated from the side members, one of the said cathode hangers being provided with means for supporting the same from a negative bus bar, means for securing one or more anodes to each of the side members and means for securing one or more cathode members to the said cathode hangers.

2. A plating fixture comprising a substantially rectangular frame having opposed anode-supporting side members eachof which is provided with means for supporting the same from a positive bus bar, the said frame also including end members connecting opposite ends of the side members, the end member adjacent to the ends of the anode-supporting side members which are adapted to be supported from the bus bar being of conducting material and the other of said members being of insulating material, a block of insulation secured to the rst end member intermediate of the ends thereof, a cathode hanger` `secured to said insulating block and extending downwardly therefrom, a second cathode hanger secured to the second end member intermediate of the side members and being provided with means for supporting the same from a negative bus bar, means for securing to the opposed side members of the said frame one or more anodes adapted to extend downwardly into an electrolyte, and means for securing to the cathode hangers one or more members to be plated.

3. A plating xture comprising a substantially rectangular frame having opposed anode-supporting side members each of which is provided with means for supporting the same from a positive bus bar, the said frame also including end members connecting opposite ends of the side members, the end member adjacent to the ends of the anode-supporting side members which are adapted to be supported from the bus bar being of conducting material and the other of said members being of insulating material, a block of insulation secured to the rst end member intermediate of the ends thereof, a cathode hanger secured to the said insulating block and extending downwardly therefrom substantially midway between vertical planes including the side members, a second cathode hanger secured to' the central portion of the second end member and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with means for supporting the same from a negative bus bar, clamping bars for securing to each side member one or more anodes adapted to extend downwardly into the electrolyte, bolts for securing the clamping bars to their respective side members, and means for securing to the cathode hangers the members to be plated.

4. A plating fixture comprising a rectangular frame having anode-supporting side members each provided with means for supporting the same from a bus bar and end members connec'ting opposite ends of the side members, one of said end members being oi conducting material and connecting the ends of the side members which are remote from the ends having means for supporting the same from a bus bar and the other of said end members being of insulating material, a block of insulation secured to the first end member, intermediate of the ends thereof, a cathode hanger secured to said insulating block and extending downwardly therefrom substantially midway between the sides of the said frame, a second cathode hanger secured to the insulating block constituting the other end member of the frame, substantially midway of the sides of said frame and projecting downwardly therefrom and provided with means for supporting the same from a bus bar, means for securing to each of the side members of the said frame one or more anodes adapted to extend downwardly therefrom and means for securing to the cathode hangers articles to be plated and located intermediately of the anodes supported by the side members.

JAMES T. SAAS. 

